|
JGRMX Uses First SuperFlow Test System of Its Kind
|
|
 |
Joe Gibbs Racing, Motocross (JGRMX, officially titled as the SPIKE Hardcore Energy/Toyota/Yamaha Team) debuted January 5, 2008 in Anaheim, California at the opening round of the AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship. Founder Coy Gibbs, the son of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs (winner of three Super Bowls and three Sprint Cup Championships) teamed with his father to establish the new motocross team.
|
|
JGRMX Founder Coy Gibbs
|
|
|
JGRMX spokesperson Dave Evans says, "The fledgling team had only modest goals for its rookie year, with more aggressive plans for 2009 and beyond. In its first racing season, the innovative new entry to action sports garnered a substantial amount of media attention; supercross and motocross series promoters and fans warmly received them. Still in its debut season, newly signed rider Josh Grant earned the first podium supercross finish for the SPIKE Hardcore Energy/Toyota/Yamaha Team on November 7, 2008 at the 26th annual Bercy Supercross in Paris, France."
"Advancing into 2009, the team is armed with the some of the most sophisticated equipment available to prepare for a full assault on the AMA Supercross and AMA Toyota National Motocross Championship Series," says Evans.
One such device is the SuperFlow AC90 dynamometer, the first test system of its kind. The AC90 utilizes an AC (electric) motor, specialized variable-speed drive, and high-speed data acquisition. Often found in Formula One and NASCAR engine shops, AC technology is the absolute pinnacle of the engine dynamometer world. The SuperFlow AC90 is capable of replicating exact engine rpm and throttle position for any racetrack and rider combination.
|
|
The SuperFlow AC90 dynamometer is the first test system of its kind.
|
|
|
"Our requirements for the engine dynamometer test system were specific," said Coy Gibbs, JGRMX team owner. "Motocross engines put out a relatively small amount of power compared to a NASCAR engine. What we needed was a system that would be sensitive enough to pick up even the smallest improvements: we needed a dynamometer that would allow us to isolate an engine from the rest of the system and perform very precise test cycles."
|
|
Dean Baker and Shawn Ulikowski prepare a motocross engine for testing on the SuperFlow AC90 system. SuperFlow personnel John Seaman and Allan Elfe provided on-site commissioning and training.
|
|
|
Dean Baker and Shawn Ulikowski testing engines on the SuperFlow AC90 dynamometer.
|
|
|
From the beginning, the personnel comprising the SPIKE Hardcore Energy/Toyota/Yamaha staff have been among the most respected and accomplished group of its kind in the industry. For 2009, two of the best riders in the world have joined the team-Josh Grant and Cody Cooper-supporting the Gibbs family philosophy that in professional sports, you win with people.
|
|
Understanding that success in NASCAR does not directly translate into success in motocross, Coy has hired a team with extensive backgrounds in the sport. Jeremy Albrecht manages the team, with Dean Baker handling the engine development. Jonny Oler takes care of suspension, and Spencer Bloomer heads up the testing and settings refinement. Patrick Barker provides the tuning duties for the YZ450F of Cody Cooper, while Alex Ewing wrenches for Josh Grant. Eric Sorby will help try new ideas and test settings. The entire team, including the riders, is based in Huntersville, North Carolina.
|
|
|
|
Home
